Off to a good start- with dirty diapers!

The past week and a bit has been pretty good. Doing massive amounts of science/science experiments & activities rank right up there with boys! Now I just need to keep on top of their bad attitudes.

I've realized that for the past 2 years I have tolerated, or dare I say accepted, crappy attitudes. How could this be? Well, by not getting rid of it in year one and still having it around when we start year 3- that's how. I realized that this was really a heart issue, so I took the matter to prayer. And what I got was a dirty diaper!

Not literally, but an idea. Quite often the kids will try to 'disguise' their disobedience with joking around or some other 'cute' (or not) behaviour. However, the reality is it's still disobedience/bad attitude. God gave me the idea that the next time it came up I was to get one of the baby's diapers and hand it to said child (after telling them to close their eyes and hold out their hand!). So upon opening their eyes, they totally were disgusted.

Then, I went and got a pretty ribbon and tied it around the dirty diaper (closed and wrapped up of course)- and repeated the process.

Needless to say they looked at me like I was a bit crazy. So I explained to them that their attitude/disobedience was as disgusting as that dirty diaper- and wrapping it all up on the outside with a pretty bow did NOTHING to change what was inside. That was what their hearts were like. They may act all cute or silly (the bow) and pretend they're just joking around when they try to sneak off in order to get out of their school work, but the heart attitude that they're showing is still that dirty diaper.

For a few days after that, any time I saw the 'attitude' coming I would mention the dirty diaper. Seems to have helped a bit- but there is still a long way to go.

I've been really good at making sure that things are organized for the day before I go to bed, and I'm quite certain that is also helping (not to mention keeping the days busy enough to keep them out of trouble).

Anyway, it's been a long, hot day/week- so I need to get some sleep.